In today’s advanced age and time, more and more people have access to education and information than ever before. This has plunged majority of them into the lofty heights of self-acknowledgement. Though this is not a new breed of people (such false preachers and self-proclaimed wise men exited since the beginning of civilization), they philosophies spread their net on people of weaker judgement and victimise them into believing their poisonous preachings. The people of Truth have always been in the minority, because I believe that is the very intention of God. If the people of Truth were in the majority, the minority would be oppressed – like the Mughals did when they spread their faith by the sword. God’s purpose to keep the men of Truth in the minority is to prove that no matter the opposition, Truth’s might triumphs – its takes time, sacrifices and faith to win over the enemy.

The day Nanak was born, only the village Pandit and the midwife instantly recognised the divine soul. Extremely few saw the Diving Light in Nanak, while the rest remained ignorant until the day Nanak merged into the Divine. The ignoranced did not end there – opposition against the House of Nanak continued through the successor Sikh Gurus and still exists today. But today’s ignorance of Sikhi is prevalent not just in non Sikhs, but in many Sikhs as well. Sikhi has proved to me, beyond doubt, that when Truth comes face-to-face with you, the face of the enemy can be seen as Truth reflects only that what we really are. Truth is a mirror – it never reflects what the one facing it isn’t. When I face Guru Granth Sahin (as Shabad), I see what I really am – if I am earnestly following the Shabad, then the picture is pretty, otherwise it is disgusting – and it’s mine, whether I like it or not.

No wonder, that since the advent of Sikhi, with the birth of Nanak, the amount of opposition has been piling up. The greatest opposition to the message of Nanak was that Sikhs are are part of Hindus. It’s a strange claim because on the one hand the Hindus want to own the Sikhs as Hindus, and on the other hand oppose Nanak’s teachings that speak against idol-worship and the caste system. then we have the Muslims who also lay claim on Guru Nanak as one of their own. This is a remarkable scenario, unparalleled in the history of religion where one man is claimed as their own by more religions that the one he founded. Is it not strange to hear the song over and over again that ‘Sikhs are Hindus’ when the people procaliming it do not even believe Guru Nanak’s proclamation that he was neither Hindu nor Muslim? What we miss here is that Nanak as the man is not the entity to be accepted (if we do not want to), it is the Shabad that he revealed to us that is to be followed. The fact is that anyone and everone is a sikh (learner, student) because they follow the teachings of their respective religions. But the Sikhs are those who follow the teachings of the 10 Sikh Gurus as enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib Ji, which includes the worship of one God. Besides this, Sikhs cannot be Hindus because Nanak may have been born in a Hindu family, but was not born as a Hindu – he rejected the Janeu at such a tender age. That alone does not prove that Nanak was not a Hindu: He worshipped only one Akaal Purakh (Hindus worship 33 million gods); he grew his kesh and protected it with a dastaar (Hindus cut their hair); he was casteless; he did not fast (Hindus fast); he studied the Vedas but was not a follower of them (Hindus follow the teachings of the Vedas and Puranas); he did not take the mandatory dip in the River Ganga (Hindus are instructed to bathe in the River Ganga at least once in their life time); and he did not follow the Hindu festivals of Raksha Bandhan, Karva Chauth, belief in Vishkarma, astrology and numerology (which all Hindus are devotees of).

The last point above has been separated because it applies to those Sikhs who have allowed themselves to revere certian Hindu customs and rituals which have prompted the Hindu activists to stamp Sikhs as part of Hinduism. What the Hindu activists forget is that even Hindus visit the Harimandir Sahib but no Sikh tells them that it makes them Sikhs. It is just the Hindus that take the exception only because they feel threatened and insecure (just like the Hindu Hill Rajas felt when they saw the flourishing congregation of Guru Gobind Singh Ji), lest the Hindu faith loses on what keep the caste system dominating over the lower castes. Sikhi is so free of dogmas and the worship only one Akaal Purakh, that the Hindus feel the most offended for it challenges centuries of their blind rituals. They forget that the faith of Nanak does not condemn their rituals, but merely awakens them to Truth. No Sikh Guru ever denounced Hinduism, but the opposite is what is happening with the Hindus for they can simply not accept Sikhism as a new faith.

Just because the number of ignorant Sikhs who follow Hindu customs and rituals (like astrology, numerology, fasting, Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, Dushera) is growing in numbers is no proof that Sikhs are Hindus. What is true is that those Sikhs that follow Hinduism as well will one day relapse into Hinduism itself – for they cease to be Sikhs as they have ignored the teachings of their faith and chosen to follow their own manmat which our Gurus rescued us out of.

Just like anyone can dress up like a policeman and commit crimes in its guise, likewise, it is just as easy for any Hindu propagandaist to adorn the roop of a Sikh and try to proove the Hindu-ness of Sikhs by doing Hindu things. The perfect example is the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) which has began to create rifts into the Sikhs by founding a wing of their Sangh under the name of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat which does everything Hindu and denounces Sikh beliefs because the very mission of RSS is to promote their language (Hindi), rule of their faith (Hindu) and return India to the land of Hindus only (Hindustan). This is nothing short of the ambition of the Mughals when they dreamed of turning Hindustan into a fully Islamic State. The Mughals failed in their ambition because it was based against the very nature of God. The very cause of the agenda against Sikhs is the fact that while every other religion considers itself as the supreme over the others, the Sikh religion is the only one that confers equality to all and does not consider itself higher or lower than another religion. Besides the Sikh religion, all other religions squirm to admit equality because of their over-zealous ambition to dominate and claim of exclusivity. The Christians consider non-Christians as inheritors of Hell, the Muslims consider non-Muslims as kafirs (non-believers) and now the Hindus consider all religions as part of Hinduism. Sikhi is the biggest thorn in the flesh of these major religion because of its message of equality and distinct code of conduct.

The greatest weapons of the RSS and other Hindu propaganda groups are the splinters ‘sects’ of Sikhi – the Naamdharis, Radha-Soamis, Nirankaris and Darshan Das. Because they all claim the heritage of Nanak (through their references from Guru Granth Sahin Ji, they do not, however, believe in the Code of the Khalsa (Sikh Rehat) and this is the weakness of the Sikhs that the propaganda activists have taken advantage of and hijacked to turn the attention of the world and ‘proove’ to them that ‘Sikhs are no different from Hindus’. But try as much as they may, Nanak will remain what he was – neither Hindu, nor Muslim.

The point of this article is not to prove that as a Sikh, I consider my faith more beautiful than the others, but to emphasise on the respect we all deserve. When some group treds on insulting our Gurus, our beliefs and practices and then go as far as debunking our faith, then it simply crosses the limit and we need to awaken to what the people around us up to. All the other religions glorify themselves – Christianity, Islam and now Hinduism, but only the Sikh faith refrains from self-glory because the House of Nanak sees all as equal. Our greatest challenge is the rising apostasy, corrupted Sikh leadership and general apathy in regard to our heritage and teachings. Our strength is in disassociating with anyone Sikh or Sikh group that twists the teachings of our Gurus and belittle the authority of Guru Granth Sahib because they become enemies of the House of Nanak. We let them be, but do not allow them to interfere with our beliefs. Sikhs have never been known to speak against any religion, no matter what attrocities they may have committed on the Sikhs – that is the beauty of Sikhi.

The tragedy of our predicament is that we have not recognised our own selves and that is why we are victimised and we hardly even notice it. There was a reason for which Nanak was born and there still is a reason why we need to uphold the values of his teachings. When we forget them is when we become exposed to those that have been the enemy of the House of Nanak for the last 500 years. The enemy never dies but Truth never gives up either.

Hargurmit Singh said,

Your blog has been a source of inspiration for lots of us. Please come back and restart writing. The blessings of the sangat that read this blog will surely help you in your marg of meeting with our Guru in this lifetime..

singh said,

I am a Sikh. Until the days of violence commenced in Punjab I never ever felt different from Hindus. If someone ever asked me a direct question, whether I was a Sikh or a Hindu I would surely re-confirm myself as a Sikh. But the difference between me and my Hindu friends never was something which ever occured in my mind. And I always saw them as much a part of myself as much I felt myself a part of them – irrespective of the differences in outward religious practises or our spoken beliefs. That was the confidence and oneness I always had as a human. Earlier and even now I share their festivals with joy. Not because I beleieve in them or not but because I enjoy collective human spirit in everyway and I never felt insecure about my own personal beleifs ever. And than started the problems from either end and I resent those who started it and fuelled it. Now, I am conscious of the differences. Earlier I was simply aware. I never once had a problem with any of my friends either way . I am tired of this religious preservation drive from all ends, across all religion. I no longer hear or listen to any institution or group telling me their views. That I have lost faith in. My commitment only lies to the people in front of me and in my vicinity and no longer to any mass thought. That in the current wolrd is the most human thing to do in my opinion. I rather seek action in line with the beleifs professed. I get this dirty feeling that as soon as communities and religion get obsessed with preserving themselves and forget their purposes they are on the way down or they are on the road to fundamentalism which stealthily creeps in taking people away from the level of self respect to egoism. So, I think when I hear about RSS deeds, so I think when I hear Sikh administration pass certain rules around symbols, so I think about other religions at various instances. 80% of Indians are discriminated one way or the other and hurt by those in power. Everyone has a sad story in their heart. The numbers are a majority. We need to join hands an consider these issues if we are what we think are. We need to stop perserving ourselves and our 1000 year old or 400 year old heritage as the main purpose. We can use it as guide but not the objective. We need to work towards progress of our neighbours and brothers. Everything else will follow if people see the true final purpose. With these thoughts I feel free and realise my journey with God is a personal experience and no one can come in between me and that. Symbols have no meaning to me anymore. I am sorry.

Saurabh said,

I am Hindu by birth but I am a devotee of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. He was very much like Guru Naka Devji who was in turn very much like Kabirdasji. I think that the fundamentalist Hindus do all those things that were described in this article, but yes, a lot of Hindus, including me, who have studied the Hindu principles can find only a handful of differences between Sikhism and Hinduism. There is a lot lot in common. Trust me…I love the Sikh Gurus and their teachings from the bottom of my heart. I just do my duty by following the religion in which I was born. I see the point of view of Sikhs as well and respect every bit of it. Sikhs may not be a part of Hinduism of Islam, but in my view they are true warriors for the truth. They are very much what the true Hindu Kshatriyas were meant to be (just a handful of differences).

I am sure that if I was there during the time of Guru Nanakji and if I, as a Hindu, would have showered my love to him and would have asked him to celebrate some of my Hindu festivals with me then he would reciprocate with the same love and join in, for he is a true Guru and a true Guru sees no distinctions but only sees the inner Sattwic feeling in a devotee for the Lord, he only sees the God in every human being.

I feel that there should be no problem for the Sikhs to join in with Hindus and Muslims in their festivals and vice versa, but the problem comes in when one becomes disloyal to the faith in which they were born and try to get converted or convert others into their fold, when one blows the differences and fights rather than respecting the differences and rejoicing for the million things in common.

I truly loved the spirit of a person who has commented here, named “Singh” (4th Comment). I bow to your feet, to the God in you, and also consider you as a true Sikh, a true human being, who lives and understands the spirit of the teachings of the perfect masters.

I don’t like fundamentalists of any religion, be it a Sikh, Hindu or a Muslim, but since the time I have read about the story about Sikh warriors helping the Hindus from the Muslim Moghuls, I have started to mentally bow to every Sikh I see anywhere and the respect for the Sikh Gurus has increased manifold.

Rajesh said,

Those who say we arent Hindu are in Ignorance. Guru Granth Saheb has scores of dohe of Sant Kabir who taught Hinduism.
Sikhs took a religious identity bcoz of what aurangazeb did.
but, today unfortunately, sikhs are siding with their own oppressors and are fighting against Hindus.

CHHENU said,

I see a lot of people going against the Hindu word. Its a label – so they see. With a label they see the limitations, that they have attached along with their thinking to a label. But Hinduism is neither. Its the most profound, the most ancient, the most wide and deepest spiritual way of life that is both alive and liberating. There is no line of philosophy or spiritual understanding that is not covered within Hinduism. But one has to understand Hinduism. Not just label it. This is important. Hinduism is not sect or a limited narrow fanatic cult.

What Guru Arjan Dev Ji, said in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1136 about the formless God is nothing new to Hinduism. Nor it is against Hinduism in any way. The worship of formless aspect of God is called advait impersonalism. The yogis meditate upon this formless God and his power.
If one has to understand true religion, true spiritual identity, then one has to rise above the cults and labels which are symbolic attachments of the Ego.

There is the importance of time, place and circumstance.
What Guru Maharaj ji meant when he said that he is not offering Hindu or muslim prayers is also important to understand for us. He was there in a time when some Hindu brahmins had made their own symbolic labels as a stamp to exploit others. That was also a major time of muslim oppression over Hindus and everyone in India. There was a need to awaken people above the symbolic and cult figures and bring them to God without fighting. The Vedic concept of ek Omkar or OM and formless Brahm or God or Rabb or however you may call him had become necessary again. Shri Guru Maharaj had felt the need to tell the people that real God consciousness is not fighting over some symbols. But understanding the underlying meaning behind them. He truly conveyed the spirit of Hinduism. His name was Guru Arjan das. Most Hindu lineages, especially Vaishnav lineages use Das suffix. Ram das, Krishna das, Arjun Das. Arjun was the devotee of Lord Shri Krishna. This is not far from Hinduism, but in its spirit only. Its in the spirit of God. I love reading the essence of the teaching of Shri Guru Maharaj ji – Shri Nanak Dev ji, Shri Arjan Das ji, Shri Guru Gobind Singhji. Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s thought and teaching matched those of saints of his time. He taught pure bhakti, devotion and seva bhav.
The ideals they laid forward for the Hindu brothers and Sikhs are an example to be followed. But sometimes we start following the nishan, but forget the meaning behind the nishan and then we fight. The meaning of the word Khalsa is wonderful. The Khalsa is the one who is pure and clean. One who has control over kaam, krodh, mad, moh, ahankar. One who is not affected by this. he has trained his mind and heart thus and has become pure. He has no hatred but love for all. He is devoted to God and spreading love for his bande. O Rabb da banda ban janda hai. Te Rabb de bandeyan di seva karda hai. He is Khalsa. But if we fight and spread hatred because my religion’s name is different than yours, then it will be difficult to become Khalsa in true sense.
That’s why the Khalsa is to be respected. Because if he is a true Khalsa, he is pure.
And Shri Guru Maharaj ji can show the way to Khalsa. This way is through love, devotion and brotherhood. Its brotherhood of all human beings and love for one’s country. Not just for Punjab for India. And for such a Khalsa ji we can say proudly Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh!! Because only the pure in heart and spirit can win over this world of miseries and hatred with his love!! 🙂

Kahu lai pahan puj dhario sir kahu lai ling gare latkaio.
(While worshipping stones some people are bowing before them and some others are withholding idols of stones in their necks)

Kahu likhio har avachi disa meh kahu pachhah ko sis nivaio.
(Some people have faith that God is in the south while others consider God, is toward the west and they are bowing their heads in those directions)

Hello mobu said,

if sihhism isnt part of hinduism, then who had the truth before nanak ???
if it was hinduism, then it is part of it – a reformed part.
if it was islam, then your all wrong, and should accept islam.
I have studied all major religions, and come to the conclusion that all are based on doing good deeds to reach heaven. The bible teaches that God gives us salvation as a free gift. Thats a big difference.
I accept the bible, and Jesus as my personal saviour.
Chritianity today is based on the teachings of Jesus and his apostles, which in turn is based on the Jewish revelations by Moses and the prophets, which was handed down from Adam, the first Man, who was instructed directly by God the Creator.
God Bless. Read the bible 1 hour per day, and I guarantee your life will be full of relevance, and knowledge.

sarnjeet kaur said,

sikhism is nothing like christianity, islam or judaism.
people say sikhism is an offshoot of hinduism and they use guru nanak as their example. they say guru nanak was born into a hindu family therefore he was a hindu. this is where you are wrong. guru nanak was born to hindu parents but that does not mean he accepted hindu ideology. in fact at a young age he made it very clear he did not accept their ideology. just like when you have someone born a muslim does not mean that person will grow up and accept islamic ideology and philosophy. to assume so is ignorant.
regarding rajesh ‘Sikhs took a religious identity bcoz of what aurangazeb did.’
erm no, sikhi is a way of life for us. to say that sikhs are teaming up with their former oppresors (muslims) and fighting hindus, is implying that sikhs hold a grudge for all muslims because of the actions of the mughal empire. sikhs are taught to not hate on anyone or pass judgment based on their caste, creed or religion. i have already explained why sikhs are not hindus above.
i think everyone knows how sikhs have such contrasting ideology compared to hindus. i need not go into details.
stop taking sikh teachings as an attack on hindus. we simply reject hindu philosophy, we dont secretly want to kill all hindus.

I belöngs to Hindu faimly i am totaly agreed Sikhs are not Hindus. As far as my thinking RSS is not against Sikhs.They just trying to make Hindu Sikh unity against fundamental Muslim and Chirshian. RSS belive Sikhs and Hindu are natural citizen of India.But jehadi forces want to destroy india RSS just seeking help from sikhs against jehadi forces to save homeland to which sikhs and hindu belong. I think Rss people fully respect Sikh Gurus.There is nothing like that they wanted to convert Sikhs to Hindus i have listen in one speech of rss chief sudarshan that every Hindu faimly of punjab should produce one Sikh member. If any one does not agreed with idialogy then this ideolgy should denied logicaly and respect ful manner. But some people statrts to abuseing degrading Hindusim to show sikhs are not hindus that is wrong.

SIKHISM: FATHERHOOD OF ONE ALMIGHTY GOD, TRUTH HIS NAME, CREATOR, WITHOUT FEAR, WITHOUT ENMITY, CONSTANT BEYOND TIME, NEITHER HE IS BORN NOR DIES, SELF EXISTENT, SELF CREATED, FORMLESS SPIRIT, THROUGH GRACE OF ENLIGHTENED GURU, HE CAN BE REALIZED. Equality of all humans, gender equality as well; no caste system, no idol worship, no deities worship. Worship Shabad Guru, Scriptural Truth contained in Guru Granth Sahib alone, read it, listen to it, understand and practice the principles preached through Shabad contained in It. No empty rituals, no fasting, no idolatory, no caste system which preaches and perpetuates inequality based on birth, no pilgrimages to holy rivers etc. Complete rejection of authority of Vedas and Puranas, Brahma/Vishnu/Mahesh triology, and 33 crores devis and devas which Hindus believe in. Rejection of authority of Brahmin, who preaches inequality, and exploits three lower castes, his kitchen (chauka) gets defiled by entry of any one from three caste humans, whom he considers lower or untouchables, and gets sactrified by the plaster of cowdung and mud. What could be more ridiculous? No thit, war, muhurats, all days are great when you remember God the creator and do good deeds. Practice virtues, Remember God at all times (Nam Japna), Kirat Karna(earn thy living honestly), share with the needy or diabled. Sikhism has all the modern values, whereas Hinduism is whole lot of confusion: worship or belief in forces of nature, 33 crore deities, snakes, cows, bulls, ganga maya. Kishan Bishan Kabnu na Dheyaun, Jo var chahon so Tum(one formless God spirit) Te Payoon. Na Ham Hindu Na Musalman. Ham Hain Sikh Khalsa. God bless you with your faith Hindus, Muslims, or Christians, Budhists. AT Harmandir Sahib or all Sikh Gurdwaras all humans are welcome, Harimandir, the place for worship of One God, all His children are welcome to bathe together, pray together, and then free dine together. This is Sikh Religion. Love for all humans.

RSS a Hindu Rashtra Poiltical Party with agenda of Hindutva- implementing ancient Hindusim. Leadership of BJP their parliamentary wing headed by Lal Krishan Advani plays very dangerous politics of creating conflict Hindu Vs.Sikhs, Hindu Vs. Christians, Hindus Vs. Muslims, Hindus Vs. Dalits. Attacks on all minorities to consolidate Hindu vote banks. This kind of parochial ideology gave birth to Pakistan and Bangladesh already, and eventually it can lead to total disintegration of India. Hope Not. India has has much more linguistic, religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity, where India needs a good secular party which gives equal respect to all different ethnic communities. Pluralistic spciety requires a pluralistic ideology to build a nation. India had over 700 kingdoms in the history when British went there, it is only English language which unites India our colonial heritage, otherwise India is a conglomirate of over seven hundred natiions or nationalities. India require an enlightened leadership and nothing like RSS BJP MNS, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal. What if RSS created Rashtarya Sikh Sangat, it is political ploy to absorb Sikhs into ancient Hinduism. Hinduism, when I look carefully does not look like a religion. It is a system of social exploitation based on caste system, idol deity worshi, and whole lot of confusion. Such things should have absolutely no room in politics of the 21st century India.
Canada is the pluralistic society, secular political system. The greatest country in the world. India has to go a long way. Failing to tread the right path to me it looks like India is on a dangerous suicidal collision course for self destruction, if the intellectuals do give it the right direction.

Today a Hindu friend of mine admitted to me that Raj Thakeray of MNS is a Goonda. Well, fine, I said. What about Bajrang Dal, which caused riots against Christians in Andhra and other parts of India, and before they burnt alive Graham Stains and his two sons while they were asleep in their camper. He admitted again, some goondas did that. Then I asked him whose Goondas are they? Some goodas also demolished a historic mosque at Ayodhya, and also killed lots of muslims in Godhara railway station, and large parts of Gurjrat. Whose goondas are they? He just turned his face down, and looked sideways.
I said, it is a matter of great shame for us Indian, or ex- Indians, that our motherland still has room for these goondas who are bent upon destroying the country through their ignorance, no one is there to stop them. He said, Bhai Sahib, some politicians are behind them, and they are big shots and no body do or say anything against them. Then, I asked, All 1.2 billion Indians cannot be that ignorant, and uneducated to understand this dirty politics? He said, yes, but they are helpless, because these goodas also attack them if someone opens their mouth. What a shame I said, what could be more miserable. Some sensible Indians has to have some spines to stop this non-sense rather than watch and ignore it out of sheer cowardice. Some body has to take a stand against the mighty moghals like Guru Gobind Singh, who sacrificed his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and and also his four sons, two of whom were bricked alive at Sirhind. Did his Khalsa give up?
Where are the mighty moghals now? Then he said Yaa, but then he left…

Sarbjit Singh said,

We must always respect Hindus, Muslims, Christians etc, but yes we must follow our religion. Basically Sikhism is nothing but the way of life. We have got no right to comments on other’s way of life. However we are supposed to respect each others feelings.

I do attend religious functions for Hindus too, but do not take part in theit worships, since my religion does not allow.

If we go in the past, their was no name as “Hindus”. This name may be only 500-600 years old. In fact we are Aryans.